Research Center for Moral Science
Life and the Environment Section
This section focuses on the life sciences and environmental science, and attempts to discover solutions to the social and ethical problems associated with bioethics and environmental ethics. Other research interests include bioethical education and environmental education, and the biological basis of morality and ethics.
Social Science Section
The ethical problems that present themselves in a variety of connected areas, notably the economy, management, international politics, religion and society, from this section’s domain. Particular attention is paid to the study of business ethics based on the idea of “the unity of morality and the economy”.
Human Studies Section
Here the focus is on problems affecting humankind, and its individual societies and civilization, and use is made of insights from the human sciences (such as philosophy, sociology, anthropology and history) to try to solve them. Research into moral science, moralogy and the life and thought of Chikuro Hiroike is also conducted with the same end in view.
Education Section
Taking the ideas and practice of Chikuro Hiroike in the field of moral education as a basis, research is conducted on topics, including: moralogy education; moral education in schools, the home, and the workplace; lifelong learning; character improvement for teachers and parents; caring; and life design.
Chikuro Hiroike Studies Section
This section is active in conducting research into the life and thought of Chikuro Hiroike. Among its task are the collection, organization and preservation of materials concerning Hiroike, and these materials are then studied in order to gain a deeper and fuller understanding of his significance.
History Section
Perceptions of the history of Japan in neighboring countries, and questions about the origins, accuracy and justice of these perceptions form the focus of this section’s research, since these are among the most fundamental issues facing Japan today. An interdisciplinary approach is adopted to tackle these matters, and attention is also paid to the manner in which history is taught in schools.
Traditional Culture Section
The research conducted by members of this section focuses on “the everlasting succession of the Japanese Imperial House” and “the ortholinon of the nation,”* and a broad and long-term perspective is adopted here. Materials concerning the Imperial Household are collected, organized and examined to further understanding of the culture of the Japanese Imperial Household. These materials and the research findings based on them are also made available in published form and on a dedicated website to satisfy the interest of the academic world and the public at large. NOTE*Ortholinon(s) – A term coined by Chikuro Hiroike, from the Greek work orhtos, meaning ‘straight’, and linon, meaning ‘thread’ – thus ‘line of succession.’ The word denotes either a series of great benefactors of humankind, or to a single benefactor in such a series, according to context. The ortholinon of a nation is the line formed by its successive heads of state and also denotes the presence that is central to its national morality.
